MAGIC MORNING
Chapter Six
Rose smiled to herself as she looked in the
mirror. She actually liked the dress she had on. It was beautiful with colors
of red and black. She usually didn't like getting dressed up, but tonight was
an exception. Jack would be there. He had become a really great friend.
She had thought about being more than
friends. What it would be like to marry him and raise children. But, she was
just kidding herself. Jack probably didn't even think of her as more than an
acquaintance. Still, that would not stop the constant dreams about breaking off
the engagement to Cal and running into Jack's arms.
"Sweetpea," Cal called from the
other room. "Are you ready?"
Rose sighed and walked out of her bedroom to
meet Cal's piercing eyes. "Yes, I'm ready."
Cal's smile faded, and he looked serious for
a moment. He looked straight into Rose's eyes. "Do you plan on getting
sick again?"
Rose noticed the sarcasm in his voice. She
needed to stand up to him. She knew she couldn't' go on like this. He couldn't
keep treating her like a child. It wasn't fair. "I'm sorry that I..."
Cal cut in. "Then you can let your
prince charming walk you back."
Rose's fear slipped away. She wasn't afraid
of Cal any more. She knew she had to do this. "Jack is a nice guy."
Cal suddenly looked at her with hatred.
"It's Jack now, is it? Rose... I don't want you to see Mr. Dawson any
more."
Rose took a deep breath. "I'm not a
foreman in one of your mills that you can command. I am your fiancée!"
Rose couldn't predict what Cal was going to
do. "My fiancée! Yes you are, and you're my wife by practice!" He
yelled. He slapped Rose across the face, hard.
Rose moved her feet, catching herself. She
looked up just in time for Cal to storm out of the room. Rose took a sigh of
relief. About five minutes later, she heard Cal say, "Come on Rose, we're
going to leave."
Rose knew he was being polite now because
Ruth was with him. He never hit her around Ruth. Rose doubted her mother would
care, anyway. Cal was always the perfect gentlemen around her.
As Rose was walking down to dinner, all she
could think about was Jack. She felt trapped. She was glad she didn't have to
walk with Cal. Her mother had already taken that spot. Rose knew he was still
mad and would be for the rest of the trip. As they walked down the grand staircase,
Rose noticed Jack right away. He looked bored. He was leaning on a pole,
probably daydreaming.
Rose watched as her mother and Cal walked
right past him. Jack met Rose before she reached the end of the stairs. He took
her hand and kissed it. "I never thought I'd get to do that to such a
beautiful women," Jack said with a smile.
Rose blushed and joined arms with Jack. She
felt safe. Cal looked behind his shoulder to make sure his fiancée was
following him. Once he saw her with Jack he shuddered. Yet, he knew he could
not make a scene, and he continued walking.
"He hates me, doesn't he?" Jack
asked with a smile. Rose smiled back. Neither one of them even cared that he
did.
Once dinner was started, so was the boring
conversation. Jack and Rose kept making eye contact across the table and
smiling. Cal saw all of this. Finally, once dinner was over, it was time for
the men to go into the sitting room. Jack hated this part. It was even more
boring than dinner.
"I'm not going to be joining you
guys," Jack said, Cal eyeing him suspiciously. "I'm going to head
back to my room.."
Jacob looked at Jack with disappointed. Why
couldn't he just be normal like the other men? Why was his nephew different?
Cal walked over to Rose, "Would you like
me to escort you back to the room?"
Rose smiled at him. "No, I'll stay
here."
Jack had all of this planned out. He had it
planned out since last night. He just hoped Rose would love it. As the other
men left, Jack walked up to Rose and took her hand. As he kissed it, he
whispered, "Goodnight Rose..."
After he had walked away, Rose noticed
something. She placed her hands under the table and opened the note Jack had
placed in her hand.
Make it count. Meet me at the clock.